(Hamilton) – Paul Ressler, member of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, recently presented
Assemblyman Dan Benson with an honorary plaque for his work on a key drug overdose
prevention law, the Overdose Prevention Act, which included provisions known as the “Good
Samaritan Law” (see attached photo). Both were signed into law last year, with Assemblyman
Benson as prime sponsor of the Assembly Bill.
“I am so proud to accept this great honor and will continue to work in the Assembly to
help those dealing with addiction,” said Assemblyman Benson. He cited the law’s success in
helping save over 100 lives since it was enacted May 2013.
(Hamilton) – Paul Ressler, member of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, recently presented
Assemblyman Dan Benson with an honorary plaque for his work on a key drug overdose
prevention law, the Overdose Prevention Act, which included provisions known as the “Good
Samaritan Law” (see attached photo). Both were signed into law last year, with Assemblyman
Benson as prime sponsor of the Assembly Bill.
“I am so proud to accept this great honor and will continue to work in the Assembly to
help those dealing with addiction,” said Assemblyman Benson. He cited the law’s success in
helping save over 100 lives since it was enacted May 2013.
Ressler, whose son Corey passed away in 2010 after an accidental drug overdose,
thanked Benson for his efforts to stop more lives from being taken by drug use. Ressler believes
that, if the Good Samaritan law had been enacted earlier, his son would have received the
medical attention that could have saved his life. The law encourages witnesses to a drug
overdose to call 911 by protecting them from legal consequences.
Since his son’s death, Ressler has been a public voice for drug abuse prevention and laws
that make it easier for drug users to get help with their addiction. He publicly supported the
Overdose Prevention Act, which also allows police officers and others to obtain and administer
the drug Narcan, which counteracts the effects of a heroin overdose and gives first responders
critical time to treat an overdose.
In addition, Ressler says he plans to “continue helping at-risk youth in New Jersey by
helping them find and apply for jobs and advance their situations, and getting them out of the
cycle that, for many, leads to drug abuse.”
“Paul has been such an important voice for more effective drug policy in New Jersey,”
Assemblyman Benson said. “It was great working with him on something he feels so
passionately about, and I hope to continue that in the future.”